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Factory Silver Plated and Factory Engraved Model N.
This special order gun was shipped to Shelton-Payne Arms
Co., El Paso, TX in March 1916 in a two gun shipment.
Silver plating was the rarest of the special finishes for
the Model N. Of approximately 410,000 guns produced,
there were only 64 factory silver plated .25s, only a
handful of which were also factory engraved. This gun is
sitting on top of its' original factory
presentation case.
Colt Model 1908 Vest Pocket Model
Serial Number 204423 - One of five guns shipped to Murta
Appleton, Philadelphia, PA for William H. Gough on May 21,
1919, returned to Colt and reshipped to Murta Appleton on
July 2, 1919. The other four pistols were also silver
plated and fitted with mother of pearl grips. This pistol
has full factory "C" coverage, is silver plated and is
fitted with gold inlaid monogrammed mother of pearl grips
with recessed medallions. The work was processed on Colt
factory order number 1110/5.
Remarks: The
notations concerning finish of subject pistol are confusing
as it lists being both silver and in the "Green State". The
"green or soft" state would normally indicate shipment
without finish for engraving outside the factory. As W.H.
Gough was a known engraver for Colt at this time, it would
appear that the pistol was sent for engraving although the
record does not specifically list this feature.
There is a further
notation indicating that the pistol was reshipped to Murta
Appleton & Company on July 2, 1919. It would appear that at
this time the final finish on subject pistol was silver.
Right side of 204423.
One distinctive style used by Gough is
the presence of a five pointed star on the rear of
the frame. This is also present on other known examples of
Gough's work.
Close-up of the gold inlay "I.H.W" on the
left grip.
Factory Master Engraved and Silver Plated Colt Model 1908
Vest Pocket Model Serial Number 204695 - One of five
guns shipped to William H. Gough on May 21, 1919, returned
to Colt and reshipped to Murta Appleton on July 2, 1919.
The engraving pattern on this pistol matches the pattern of
204423 (pictured above, which was also in the same
shipment). The other four pistols were also silver plated
and fitted with mother of pearl grips. This pistol has full
factory "C" coverage, is silver plated and is fitted with
mother of pearl grips with recessed medallions.
John Brunner Collection, Photo by Sam Lisker
Colt Model N .25 ACP serial number 228236 Master engraved by William
H. Gough - A very unique factory master engraved and silver plated Model N
.25 ACP pistol engraved by Colt master engraver, William H. Gough. This pistol
features complete engraving coverage and is fitted with Type III (square top,
recessed medallion mother of pearl grips. This pistol was shipped on December
16, 1919 to Murta Appleton Co., Philadelphia, PA c/o W.H. Gough.
For other Colt Vest Pocket pistols engraved by William H.
Gough, See:
Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - December 1998
Coltautos.com Gun of the Month - April 2000
Coltautos.com
Gun of the Month - January 2003
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